Rail-joint



J. KELLOW.

RAIL JoNT.

(No Model.)

Patented May 19, 1885.

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UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KELLOW, OF PEN ARGYL, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,189, dated May 19,1885.

Application filed March 2, 1885.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KELLow, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pen Argyl, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Joints,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a lock for securing the meeting ends ofrailroad-rails, and it has for its object to provide a device of thischaracter which shall be cheap and simple in its construction, effectivein its operation, and

, one that will be strong and durable.

With these ends in View the invention eonsists in the improvedconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of tworailroad-rails, showing my improved lock applied thereto. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of partsdetached. Eig. 4 is a cross-section of a modification, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of parts shown in Fig. 4 detached.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A A represent portionsof two railroad-rails which are provided with horizontal slots oropenings a, which are located midway between their upper and lower ends,and aslight distance from their meeting ends. The flanges or tread ofthe rails are cutoff on one side at their meeting ends, as shown at b.

B represents a fish-plate which is provided at its upper end with a ribor projection, af,

\ whieh,when the fish-plate is adj usted in place,

is adapted to t in the recesses b of the rails Y AA. The fish-plate B isprovided with outwardly-extending flanges C C, which ianges are adaptedto engage the horizontal openings or slots a of the rails, the ends ofsaid flanges projecting through and beyond the rails.

D represents a plate which is provided with horizontally-disposed slotsor openings d, which correspond to the flange on the plate B, and whichare adapted to receive the flanges (No model.)

which project through and beyond the said plate. The plate D is alsoformed with beveled upper and lower edges, e, to fit the rails. Theopenings d are somewhat longer than the flanges C C, as are also therecesses b, and slots a in the rails, to allow for contraction andexpansion. The flanges G C are pro- `vided near their ends with holes oropenings f, and adapted to engage said holes or openings are wedges E,having at their upper ends, on the inner sides thereof,inwardly-extending iiangcs F, which are adapted to be held in engagementwith the upper edges of the plate D by means of keys Gr, which engageopenings or passages formed near the lower ends of the wedges, said keysbearing tightly against the under sides of the flanges C C, with theirends thus holding them in place in said passages or openings landpreventing their detachment.

In the modication shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the flange on the fish-plate Bpasses through recess formed in the meeting ends o'f the rails andengages an opening formed in the plate D. In this case a bed isemployed, the same consisting of a base-plate, G, havingupwardlyextending side ianges, H H', the flange H, having an inclinedinner face. The ends of the rails rest upon theba-se-plate, and ttedbetween the sides of the rails and the lange H', is a wedge, I, whichserves to hold the rails rmly in position. `One end of the wedge I isprovided with a hole or opening, g, in which is tted a key, h, the endsof which extend beyond said opening.

- It will beseen that by recessing the rails, as at b, and inserting thefish-plate B, therein, a smooth and even tread is provided for thewheels at their meeting ends, which is especially desirable when therails are in a contracted state.

By the employment of fish-plates constructed as above described the useof bolts and nuts is obviated, thus preventing any of the parts frombecoming loosened or detached.

It will be further apparent that interlocking plates constructed inaccordance with my invention are cheap and simple, effective in theiroperation, and strong and durable.

Having fully described my invention, what In testimony that I claim theforegoing as 1o I claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature Patent, isin presence of two witnesses.

The rails having slots or openings and re- 5 oesses, b, in combinationwith a {ish-plate hav- JOSEPH KELLOW.

` ing flanges provided with holes or openings,

a rib on the fish-plate to t the recesses b, Witnesses: 1' wedges havinginturned anges, and keys to SAMUEL KEAT, f1

t openings in said wedges, as set forth. A. C. GRASHALK.

